Lantern



April 16, 1963 A. M. ANDREWS LANTERN Filed Aug. 22, 1960 mm B T 8 Nn EA m MM m , AT TORNEYS United States Patent "ice 3,086,106 LANTERN Alvadore Marcellus Andrews, 6315 SW. Richey Lane, Portland 23, Greg. Filed Aug. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 51,148 1 Claim. (Cl. 240-25) The present invention relates to a new and improved construction for a lantern.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and' improved construction for a lantern utilizing a fluorescent bulb. 1

A further object is to provide a lantern construction wherein the components are completely protected from the elements.

Another object is to provide a lantern having a fluorescent bulb so constructed as to dissipate harmlessly the heat generated by the ballast transformer.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a lantern constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the lantern with the decorative housing removed;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view of the base of the lantern;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation of the base;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of arrows 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the lantern of the invention comprises a base 10 including a generally tubular shell 12 formed of metal, preferably aluminum. The base 10 is provided at its lower end with a cylindrical neck 14 which may be inserted into the top of a mounting post 16.

Mounted in the shell 12 near its upper end is a horizontal plate which is preferably of aluminum or other metal having good heat conducting properties and which is preferably in snug engagement with the side wall of the shell 12 so as to facilitate conduction of heat from the plate to the shell. Suitable means such as lips 22 punched in the shell 12 support the plate 20 which is held against the lips by tabs 24 bent inwardly from the upper rim of the shell. i

Secured by screws 30 or other suitable means to the undersurface of the plate 20 is a ballast transformer 28. Also mounted on the underside of the plate 20 is a conventional mounting block 32 for a fluorescent bulb starter 34 and which projects upwardly above the plate through an opening 36 therein.

Secured to the upper surface of the plate 20 is a mounting socket 40 for a fluorescent bulb 42 which extends vertically upwardly from the plate. The opposite end of the bulb 42 is engaged in a mounting socket 44 secured to the upper end of a tubular mounting arm 46, the lower end of which is secured to the shell 12 by means of a bracket 48, as best shown in FIG. 5. The transformer, lamp, socket and starter are suitably innerconnected by 3,086,106 Patented Apr. 16, 1963 leads indicated generally at 50, the leads for the mounting socket 44 extending upwardly through the arm 46. Power may be supplied for the lamp through conductors 52 extending through the post 16 to a suitable source of electric power. 1

Mounted on the base 10 and enclosing the bulb 42 and other structure is a decorative housing 56 having a rounded base portion 58 which extends about the upper portion of the base 10, see FIG. 6. Lips 60' may be provided on the housing base to engage the upper edge of the shell 12 so as to hold the housing in position and screws 62 may be provided removably to secure the housing to the base. Preferably the housing 56 is molded of a translucent or transparent plastic material such as polyethylene. Obviously, the housing 56 may be of various decorative shapes and designs.

The housing 56 comprises identical, separately molded body half portions 64, 66 which are cemented or heat sealed together along their mating surfaces as indicated at 68. The housing is capped by a cup-shaped member 66 which surrounds an upwardly projecting tubular part 70 of the body. The cup 66 is topped by an umbrellalike shield 72 and a decorative ring 74 secured in place by a bolt 76 which may be mounted thereon. It will be seen that the housing 56 is completely sealed and thus the bulb, transformer, starter, etc. are completely protected from rain, snow, dust and the like.

As will be apparent with the structure as shown the leads to the upper socket 44 are fully enclosed and protected from injury when the housing 56 is removed for any reason. Moreover, the housing 56 can be easily removed and replaced in the event it is necessary to replace the lamp bulb 42 or to replace the starter 34 which by reason of the manner in which it is mounted on the base is easily accessible.

In locations having low power cost it is feasible to permit the lamp to burn continuously since a fluorescent lamp draws relatively little power. In such instances the construction of the base 10 is of added advantage in that the plate 20 conducts heat from the ballast transformer 28 to the shell 12 from which it can be radiated to the atmosphere or conducted to the post 16. This is particularly desirable since the accumulated heat from the ballast transformer and that from rising by reason of the sun shining on the lamp might over-heat the plastic housing 56 were all the heat to accumulate therein.

Havingillustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention permits of modification in arrangement and detail. I claim all such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claim. I

I claim:

In combination, a post having a top end, a lanter mounted on the top end of said post, said lantern comprising a generally tubular metal base having means on its lower end attaching the same to said post top end, a circular, horizontally extending thermally conductive plate mounted in said base in thermally conductive engagement with the wall of said base, a ballast transformer secured to the undersurface of said plate, said plate having an opening therethrough, a fluorescent bulb starter mounting block secured to the undersurface of said plate, a fluorescent bulb starter removably mounted in said block and extending above said plate through said plate opening, a mounting socket for a fluorescent bulb secured to the upper surfiace of said plate coaxially therewith, a second fluorescent bulb mounting socket, a tubular mounting arm for said second socket secured to said base and extending upwardly therefrom in offset relation to the axis of said plate, said second socket being secured to the upper end of said arm, a fluorescent bulb mounted in and extending between said sockets coaxially with said base,

References Cited in the file of this patent a housing removably mounted on said base and enclosing 10 2,886,699

UNITED STATES PATENTS Long June 13, 1950 Crockett Nov. 6, 1951 Foster Nov. 11, 1952 Harling May '12, 1959 

